For years, the CJTF and local hunters have been the community’s shield as the Boko Haram conflict drags into its second decade.
Boko Haram terrorists on Thursday launched a deadly ambush on members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in the Warabe community, Gwoza Local Government Area, killing eight and leaving three others missing in Borno State.
The attack occurred around 10:00 a.m. on November 20, when the CJTF volunteers, who double as the village’s only active line of defence, went out to collect firewood.
HumAngle reports that a CJTF member from Warabe confirmed the death toll, saying the victims were caught off guard by the insurgents.
“All the members killed are part of the CJTF, except for one,” said a resident.
Warabe, a rural settlement tucked between Pulka and Gwoza town, has no permanent military deployment.
For years, the CJTF and local hunters have been the community’s shield as the Boko Haram conflict drags into its second decade.
Residents said the insurgents rode in on at least five motorcycles, carrying no fewer than 20 fighters armed with machine guns, while several others advanced on foot.
The CJTF members returned fire, but they reportedly exhausted their ammunition as the attackers pressed in.
Once the defenders were overwhelmed, the insurgents executed them, carted away their weapons, and used the victims’ mobile phones as bait, calling other hunters under the guise of requesting reinforcement.
By the time backup arrived, Boko Haram fighters had already vanished into the bush, taking the stolen arms with them.
Three CJTF hunters remain unaccounted for and are feared to have been abducted.
The nearest military base is located in Pulka, about 7 kilometres from Warabe.
Gwoza town is roughly 15 kilometres away. Locals say the lack of a military presence in the community leaves them dangerously exposed each time insurgents strike.
SaharaReporters last week reported that top military brass including the Operation Hadin Kai, Theatre Commander, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, stormed the military base in Damboa, Borno State, to lead rescue operations for some abducted army personnel.
SaharaReporters had learnt that the abduction of the officers followed a violent ambush by fighters of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) that left two soldiers and two members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) dead.
The attack, which occurred last Friday night also led to the reported abduction of Brigadier General M. Uba, along with two other soldiers.
Although the Nigerian Army in a release earlier denied the abduction of the 25 Brigade Commander, soldiers who spoke with the media confirmed that the commander was not yet back to the base.
Multiple military sources told SaharaReporters that the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), Major General Abubakar, and the Sector 2 Commander arrived in Damboa shortly after the attack to coordinate rescue efforts and enhance troop morale.
“The Brigadier General who was abducted managed to send his live location to colleagues,” a senior military source revealed.
“They traced it and found the spot, but there was no trace of him. It’s unclear if his phone died or was seized by the terrorists.”
Another source added that the abducted officer appeared to have access to his phone under duress.
“Even yesterday morning, he made a video call to his dry cleaner but warned him not to talk,” the source said.
Despite deploying troops to the location shared by the officer, they returned without success. One soldier who was shot and abducted along with him was reportedly freed, but the senior officer and two others remained missing.
The sources noted that in response to the crisis, one Brigadier General Mustapha has been appointed to lead the 26 Task Force Brigade in Damboa, while troops previously engaged in the rescue operation were withdrawn early Sunday.
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